Former player and TV pundit Robbie Savage says current coach has benefitted from the work ethic and togetherness the former boss Nigel Pearson had instilled in the club last season

Leicester City have shown great form this season and they are currently at the top of the EPL table.(Reuters Photo)

Former Leicester City, Derby County footballer, Robbie Savage has not been the best of admirers of John Terry. With his stinging rebuke during his TV punditry, Savage has rubbed the Chelsea man the wrong way.

The Welshman, however, says the English defender deserves to be given a contract extension at Chelsea, for all the work he has done at the London club. “At the beginning of the season, I did have a go at John Terry. I had a falling out. I said he won’t play all the matches, and I have been proved right,” Savage told Hindustan Times on Tuesday.

“But I think what he offers Chelsea right now is leadership. I don’t think he is going to play every match next season if he is ever given a contract. But if you have too many legends leave a football club… (Steven) Gerrard left Liverpool. He could have offered guidance to the youngsters. John Terry has been there since 17 (14), so..”

“For him to have won what he has, I think he deserves a contract, for another year. Not play every week, but share his experience with the youngsters, he can help the manager. I am sure the driving force behind John Terry is not money. I honestly believe if Chelsea offer Terry a contract with lesser money, he would stay. I just think he loves the football club.”

Savage also believes much of the success Leicester have been having this season is due to the groundwork done by former manager Nigel Pearson. “It is not (Claudio) Ranieri, but Nigel Pearson’s work last year. Togetherness, work rate, desire. I have never seen a team like this,” Savage said.

“Of course, Ranieri has tweaked a little bit, he has brought in one or two players. But the work ethic and togetherness is of Nigel Pearson.”

So does the former Leicester player think the club can go on to win the title? “It is incredible. Absolutely incredible. To have a team who haven’t spend millions of pounds. It is no fluke, top of the league with 13 games left. If they win the league, it will be the greatest achievement ever in British football. I think they are the favourites now, if they beat Arsenal, they will win it.”

“Thirteen games are left, so there is always a but. Until they have actually won it, you can’t really say. There is always Manchester City and Arsenal. If Arsenal beat Leicester, they will only be two points behind, and they have been there and done this before. Last season the pressure was to stay in the Premier League. Had they got relegated, people would have lost jobs, this year it is different. There is no pressure this time.”